Suswam’s detention by DSS stalls trial in N3.1bn fraud
*Gabriel Suswam
(Nigeria) The detention of former Benue governor, Gabriel Suswam by the Department of State Services, DSS, on Tuesday stalled his ongoing N3.1 billion fraud trial before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
When the matter came up, Mr Joseph Daudu, SAN, counsel to
Suswam told the court that his client was absent in court on account of his
detention.
“The absence of the defendant in court is due to no fault of
his. On February 24, over a month ago, he was invited by the DSS and since that
day he has been kept in detention without trial.
“Also, no effort has been made to take him to court
irrespective of the allegation they have against him.”
“If the prosecutor is not aware of the reason for his
absence in court, I am by this statement from the bar, making him aware so that
he can find out why he (Suswam) is being kept in detention without trial.”
The lawyer maintained that Suswam’s absence was not out of
disrespect for the court, but only because he was being held against his will
and prayed the court for an adjournment.
The prosecuting counsel , Mr A.O. Atolagbe , had wondered
why the defendant was not in court even though he was on bail.
Atolagbe further told the court that he was prosecuting for
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and not for the DSS who is
currently detaining the defendant.
He said an adjournment was inevitable so as to ensure that
the defendant was present in court.
In his ruling, the judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, said that
since it was a criminal matter, it could not go on in the absence of Suswam,
the first defendant.
He adjourned the matter till May 9.
Suswam and his former Commissioner for Finance, Mr Omadachi
Oklobia , are standing trial for allegedly diverting about N3.1 billion belonging
to the government of Benue State.
They are also being tried for alleged money laundering and
breach of public trust while in office.
The Federal Government had on January 25, asked the court to
adjourn indefinitely, the fresh N7 billion alleged criminal misappropriation
charges filed against Suswam from the office of the Inspector-General of Police,
IG.
The prosecuting counsel, Mr David Igbodo , had asked the
court for an adjournment to enable the IG and the office of the
Attorney-General of the Federation conduct a thorough investigation into the
matter.
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